The Birds of Washington (Volume 1 of 2): A complete, scientific and popular account of the 372 species of birds found in the stateDawson, William Leon
Science
The Birds of Washington (Volume 1 of 2): A complete, scientific and popular account of the 372 species of birds found in the state
Dawson, William Leon
Birds -- Washington (State)
Description.—Entire plumage glossy black, for the most part with
greenish blue, steel-blue, and purplish reflections; feathers of the
neck normal, rounded. Bill and feet black; iris brown. Length
16.00-20.00; wing 12.00 (302); tail 6.70 (170); bill 1.83 (46.5);
depth at nostril .65 (16.5). Female averages smaller than male.
Recognition Marks.—Distinguishable from Northwest Crow by larger size
and clearer voice.
Nesting.—_Nest_: a neat hemisphere of sticks and twigs carefully lined
with bark, roots and trash, and placed 10-60 feet high in
trees,—willow, aspen, pine, or fir. _Eggs_: 4-6, usually 5, same
coloring as Raven’s. Occasionally fine markings produce a uniform
olive-green, or even olive-brown effect. Av. size 1.66 × 1.16 (42.2 ×
29.5). _Season_: April 15-May 15; one brood.
General Range.—Western United States from Rocky Mts. to Pacific Coast,
save shores of northwestern Washington, north in the interior of
British Columbia, south to Arizona.
Range in Washington.—Of general distribution along streams and in
settled portions of State, save along shores of Puget Sound, the
Straits, and the Pacific north of Gray’s Harbor. Not found in the
mountains nor the deeper forests, and only locally on the sage-brush
plains.
Migrations.—Resident but gregarious and localized in winter. The
winter “roosts” break up late in February.
Authorities.—_Corvus americanus_ Aud., Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv.
IX. 1858, 566 (part). Brewster, B. N. O. C. VII. 227. T. C&S. D¹. Kb.
Ra. D². Ss¹. Ss². Kk. J. B. E.
Specimens.—BN(?).
While the Raven holds a secure place in mythology and literature, it is
the Crow, rather, which is the object of common notice. No landscape is
too poor to boast this jetty adornment; and no morning chorus is
complete without the distant sub-dominant of his powerful voice, harsh
and protesting tho it be.
The dusky bird is a notorious mischief-maker, but he is not quite so
black as he has been painted. More than any other bird he has
successfully matched his wits against those of man, and his frequent
easy victories and consequent boastings are responsible in large measure
for the unsavory reputation in which he is held. It is a familiar adage
in ebony circles that the proper study of Crow-kind is man, and so well
has he pursued this study that he may fairly be said to hold his own in
spite of fierce and ingenious persecution. He rejoices in the name of
outlaw, and ages of ill-treatment have only served to sharpen his wits
and intensify his cunning.
[Illustration: _Taken in Oregon._ _Photo by Bohlman and Finley._
WESTERN CROW AT NEST.]
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